Velma Irene Long

1933 - 2024

Velma Irene Martin Long

August 2, 1933 - September 1, 2024

NORMAL - Velma Irene Martin Long, 91 of Normal, passed away Sunday, September 1, 2024.

Her funeral will be Thursday, September 5, 2024, at 2:00 PM at First Assembly of God Normal. Pastor Chris Gillott and Reverend Kathy Lamon will officiate. The visitation will be from 1:00 - 2:00 PM at the Church 800 E Vernon in Normal. The interment will be at East Lawn Memorial Gardens in Bloomington.

Velma was born in Normal on August 2, 1933, to Elta and Ethel Waltz Martin. She is survived by one daughter, Janni (Dynelle) Martin of Maysville, GA; two grand-Godsons, Keenen and Mason McDaniel; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by three brothers: Edwin, Kenneth, and David Martin.

Velma was a member of First Assembly of God in Normal for eighty-eight years. She faithfully attended every time the doors were open unless she was ill. She managed the nursery at First Assembly for more than 20 years and when a certain well-known A/G pastor was mentioned she could be relied upon to explain that she changed his diapers! Velma especially loved her Thursday Legacy group and would never agree to even doctor appointments on Thursdays!

Velma graduated in 1951 from Normal Community High School. She began her career working at Admiral. She then worked at Eisner's in Normal for 37-and-a-half years as a checker and completed her time there as Bakery Hostess. Later she spent several years as a greeter at Walmart, until her retirement in the early 2000s. She loved to tell stories about the people she met, places she had visited, and events in her life. She had a phenomenal memory and could relate all the pastors of her church in chronological order and talk about the trips she took and which year she went where.

Velma loved to travel and particularly loved to drive. She attended the Assembly of God Senior Adult Camp in Carlinville for 24 years and it was the highlight of her year. She also traveled to Niagara falls, Charleston, Savannah & Cumberland Island with a group of ladies when her daughter organized ladies' trips.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Assembly of God Normal, or to HUGS (Help us go to School) an educational non-profit founded by her daughter, Janni, in Guatemala.

Online condolences may be left at www.calvertmemorial.com. Memorial contributions may be given to First Assembly of God in Normal or HUGS Help Us Go to School. https://hugsguate.churchtrac/give.